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Arsenal’s eighth consecutive victory – this time over a dogged Everton who sit bottom of the Super League – was one of the 4-0 wins the runaway league leaders are becoming accustomed to.

Danielle van de Donk broke the Everton resistance just before the break, before Jordan Nobbs’s cool finish and a brace from Vivianne Miedema added to the haul.

But their afternoon was marred by a knee injury to playmaker and captain Nobbs. Arsenal are awaiting injury news after the England international appeared to twist her right knee in a challenge with Everton’s Chloe Kelly, with medics providing oxygen.

The questions continue to mount for Brighton, managed by former England manager Hope Powell, who are still searching for their second league win of the season after defeat by Reading.

Aileen Whelan’s header to reduce the arrears to 2-1 was eventually irrelevant. Fara Williams scored twice for Reading, and goals from Brooke Chaplen and Gemma Davison, took them to a 4-1 win and back-to-back league victories. Powell’s side are two points ahead of Everton, who have a game in hand, and visit Arsenal next weekend. Powell said: “The top three [Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal] are probably in a different league to us. It’s another experience for us if we want to emulate those teams at the top.

“We’ve got to be able to try and play against them and experience what that’s like.”

After a turgid start to the campaign, Chelsea beat 10-man Yeovil 5-0 and recorded their third league win on the bounce to move up to third, two points behind second-placed Manchester City. Four first-half goals – from Millie Bright, Ji So-Yun, Erin Cuthbert and Ramona Bachmann – a red card for Nicola Cousins before the break and Bethany England’s addition of a fifth secured Yeovil’s seventh defeat of the season.

Birmingham’s Lucy Staniforth recorded a goal and an assist as her side defeated West Ham 3-0.

The Blues slipped to fourth on goal difference, but Staniforth’s contribution, plus goals from Kerys Harrop and Emma Follis, saw them return to winning ways and leave Birmingham two points behind Manchester City.